Where the Bruised Pieces Go

by Jane Fawley

London is being haunted by a serial killer who is beginning to evolve. Victims are left at iconic city landmarks and in the garden squares of the east end. They are carefully displayed with a pear in one hand and their heart in the other. The streets of London are not paved with gold but covered in blood.

Sam Stirling is the psychologist building the criminal profile to help DCI Albert ‘Smiley’ Riley and his team apprehend him. If Sam is to succeed, he will need assistance from psychotherapist Emma Malone. But the killer has developed an unhealthy obsession with Sam and Emma catches his eye…

After another victim is discovered with one more disturbing clue, the case finally starts to make sense. But as Sam closes in, the killer reverses the roles.

Who is the profiler now?

264 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2023

Reviews

[Karly · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Rating: 2⭐️⭐️ It was…. Not great!!

Clearly I am hanging out on outlier island on this one… but thats ok.

I am not going to spend heaps of time on this review… I read this book over a week ago and it really was just ok. I had been looking forward to it. And the premise is really enticing but I was left feeling meh about it all.

The biggest issue I had with it from the start was that the FMC Emma is a psychotherapist and the MMC Sam is a criminal profiler so also a psychologist of some kind… and he needs to go and see Emma for some therapy as he suffers depression and needs some guidance with the case he’s working… thats all fine. UNTIL… they develop feelings for each other and start having lingering looks and slight hand touches and shes having drinks with her friend and talking about how good looking he is… sorry what!!! He’s your patient. BUT THEN… her friend goes well refer him on so you can start a relationship with him…

HANG ON PLEASE… you have known this man YOUR PATIENT for one session and this is the advice you are considering. But no don’t worry Emma has boundaries… no I need to help him I couldn’t do that to him.. maybe we can start something up after he’s finished seeing me!!!!! WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL… NO EMMA YOU CAN’T!!!! I’m sorry but being someone’s therapist is about as close as it gets outside of an actual relationship.. that is a gross abuse of power to then begin an actual relationship with that person… I couldn’t really get past it and I felt uncomfortable the whole time.

We have a really sick serial killer getting around as well doing super sick things… rolling around in his victims blood and getting turned on by it… cutting off their heads and it was all really full on and over the top… but the whole doctor patient thing was a sticking point for me. It really just is wrong on a real level for me… the serial killer was supposed to be OTT and full on…shock factor… but the other thing just left me feeling like … but why… we didn’t need that included it was already whack enough.

So I am now here in my review… and I started out at at 3 stars… I have since dropped (as you can see to a 2 stars… I just really didn’t like this book. I didn’t hate it but… yeah!!!!)

The other thing I just thought was a bit too meh was the ending… I think the final twist was pretty good.. didn’t pick it at all… but the whole end scene where the big shabang went down… get your disbelief and throw it away… thats ok I am willing to do that… but it was lacking something… but I think over all I just didn’t like it. The book is under 300 pages and it took me forever to get through it… and I think we all know why.

Overall, I probably wouldn’t recommend this one to any of my GR friends… I mean its 2 stars… I didn’t HATE it but I certainly didn’t enjoy it. Do yourself a favour and grab a better one than this.

[Jordan Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where the Bruised Pieces Go is a quick, fast-paced crime story for fans of shows like Criminal Minds. I don't quite have any books to compare it to, and that's part of why WTBPG is a standout in the genre. I'm an avid crime, thriller, and suspense reader, but I have never read a book where the crimes detailed are so macabre and where the psyche of the killer is so graphic in its presentation. This is likely a polarizing factor for a lot of readers, as it may be too disturbing for some - but I, for one, really enjoyed this aspect of the novel. Even though the narrative is written in the third person, the killer's inner-monologue really painted a picture of a disturbed and troubled man.

However, I do feel that the story could have added more depth in its subplot with Sam and his therapist, Emma, and more detail with the plot in general. While the crimes were described immensely and the writing was superb, the story felt lacking in nearly everything else, and I didn't feel particularly connected to Sam or Emma. The ending's plot twist also felt a bit abrupt, leading me to feel that the pacing could have been executed more effectively. All in all, I did enjoy the novel and would read a sequel featuring more of Sam's profiles if Jane Fawley was to write one.

Thank you to the publisher, Troubador, via Netgalley for providing me with an electronic advanced copy of Where the Bruised Pieces Go by Jane Fawley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties. #WheretheBruisedPiecesGo #NetGalley

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this debut from Jane Fawley. This is a dark and twisted story and whilst we know the who we don't know the why. The procedural part is on point and the expertise of the authors psychotherapist role clearly shines through. The 'Annie' chapters at first seem confusing but they do fall into place. The writing and plot are good, but it just lacked something with the characters - Sam's back story definitely could have been introduced earlier. All in all this is a great read and I for one hope this is the start of a series.

[chrissyg☕️lattesbooksandblankets · Rating 4 out of 5]

London wakes to another dead womans body displayed at yet another monument like a piece of art.
Another victim to the recent disappearances and series of murders claimed by a psychopathic serial killer. Each woman is found headless and naked with neatly folded clothes at their feet along with a red hat, holding their heart in one hand and a pear in another. The story alternates between characters Sam Sterling, a criminal profiler, his partner Riley, an investigator, Emma Malone, a psychotherapist, and the actual serial killer himself; Ben. Can they solve the puzzle behind the clues and stop the Serial Killer in his tracks?

This book is dark! The chapters with Ben dive right into his Psyche, as he takes each of his victims. Plenty of Gore. Turned my stomach! I could not get through each chapter quick enough, wanting to find out how this all was going to turn out. Very thrilling! Loved the twist!

The ending, though.. Ugh.
Did not see that coming and nobody will, because the characters didn't have the development to build to that possibility. Then, as you're told what happens, the author adds 3 more pages to attempt to convince you of the backstory. No. No mame.

I enjoyed this book. I would even recommend this page turner.
Hate the ending. Don't love this cover and could have been 30ish pages shorter.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where the Bruised Pieces Go by Jane Fawly
✨Crime✨Psychological Thriller ✨Drama
__________
Negalley Arc Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Pub Date: 28th January 2024

A story of a serial killer who leaves a pear in his victims hand and their heart in the other, a detective whose haunted by these unsolved cases, a therapist who works at a prison and a prisoner who is victim turned abuser.

I loved the interwoven connection each character had with each other, each story had the potential to be great but the execution fell short. I felt like their stories needed to go more in depth.

The plot twist i was not expecting but it happened so fast and then a blink later it was over, the pacing just felt a little rushed.

Overall i did quite enjoy this book, and if in the future Fawley writes another book with these characters i would definitely pick it up

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is DARK! And way more than your average crime thriller - if you read fiction but are into true crime and/or the psychology of serial killers, ‘Where the Bruised Pieces Go’ is an absolute must read.

The whole book is written (beautifully) in third person but we are privy to the lives and thoughts of 3 main characters - Sam, the criminal profiler working with the police on the case of an active serial killer; Emma, the therapist Sam is seeing to help process the horrific things he sees at work; and the third is the serial killer himself, Ben. Knowing who the killer is throughout and ‘witnessing’ the murders before the police is what makes this book stand out - it is done incredibly well and Fawley still manages to create mysteries for us to solve even when we as the reader know more than any of the characters in the book.

It was way more gruesome than I expected. We get all the gory details of the killings as they happen and they 👏 are 👏 GORY🩸 There’s also a lot about the psychology of childhood trauma, especially SA, so consider this your trigger warning ⚠️ To be honest I think there is enough in there that there should probably be a content warning list in this book.

The way the lives of the different characters intertwine and come together is brilliant. There are a few twists and turns and Fawley expertly leads us to solving some of them just when she wants us to, but hits us with an absolute shocker just as masterfully. I think I would have liked a few more breadcrumbs for that one and the ending did feel like it tied up a bit quickly, but I suppose that’s the reality of these kinds of cases.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start with another murder. Another woman brutally killed and displayed at a monument. With adornments, she almost looks like a work of art. Heart in one hand, a pear in the other. Headless.
DCI Riley is floundering so enter psychologist Sam Stirling to assist. To build up a profile of the killer (think Criminal Minds BAU). We also have Emma, who is Sam's therapist to assist him, and then we also hear from the killer himself, Ben. In all the gory, macabre, details...
It's not one for the faint hearted. It's rather graphic and heinous. And when Sam puts himself in the spotlight he catches the eye of the killer, and through him, Emma too, and that when things really start to get really bad....
As already mentioned, this book pulls no punches in the awful things it depicts and describes. Especially as we get to know Ben better as he divulges more about himself during his chapters.
It ticks along nicely, following the usual route until the final denouement where I have to admit that I was a bit thrown. Maybe I missed something along the way but then, the following part, after the shock, had to explain a few too many things for it all to make sense. It felt a wee bit disjointed and I wasn't as satisfied as I could have been. That said, the rest of what I read was good and, as I firmly believe this to be both a debut book, and the start of a series (?) I am hopeful that book two will come out stronger! She definitely knows her psychological stuff - but then she is a psychotherapist herself.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Amelia Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHERE THE BRUISED PIECES GO, JANE FAWLEY
Thank goodness I put Stephen King’s ‘Holly' down as a DNF and turned my attention to Jane Fawley’s dark, psychological thriller, Where the Bruised Pieces Go.

Having studied Psychology myself, I am naturally drawn to stories with at least an undertone of the psyche - the whys of extreme human behaviour and the depths of analysis these characters take us to. This novel is purely psychological - the focus of the story is only on the mind, which is the main reason I enjoyed it so much. Of course we know murder investigations involve much practical analysis of CCTV and door-to-door enquiries etc, but in this search for the sick slaughterer we follow the chase from only the viewpoint of those delving into the psychological profile of such a creature. Fascinating, shocking and utterly gripping.

Where the Bruised Pieces Go held my full attention from the start with a tension and anticipation that made it hard to put it down. It’s not a simple ‘whodunnit’, it’s much cleverer than that with the personal lives of the professional profilers on the case, and that of this serial killer expertly intertwined on multiple levels.

With an interesting and surprising twist that is shocking yet makes perfect sense at the same time, it’s difficult to believe this is Jane Fawley’s debut - and I hope there are more in the pipeline please.

A definite 5 Stars and I can’t wait for the next… Thank you Jane Fawley!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW - WHERE ALL THE BRUISED PIECES GO BY JANE FAWLEY

The extremely kind @jane.fawley.author sent me and my book club copies of her debut thriller. Firstly, I can't believe this is Jane's first book, so without spoilers, let's get into it.
We are taken along with criminal profiler, Sam and Chief inspector, Riley as they are faced with a brutal and cryptic serial killer. Fully exhausted and immersed in the case, Sam seeks refuge in therapist, Emma, who is an important supporting character, as his lifetime of depression begins to creep back in. The killer is Ben and we are introduced to him early on in the book, his warped mind taking us on the journey of his childhood and motives.
The grounded element of psychology in this book is reflected by Jane's background and with beautifully descriptive language, personification and expertly placed similies, our imaginations are loaded with visuals of the darkness this book offers. Covering sensitive topics so well, and learning the repercussions of child abuse and people who don't heal, we see where the bruised pieces go! It's dark and graphic in places but this adds to the grip of the plot. As the web weaves the story together, and the dots begin to join, it's hard to anticipate the unexpected and jaw dropping twist at the end and we are left with a perfectly concluded ending.
With expertly crafted characters, a well paced and compelling thriller was executed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ From me!

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Where the Bruised Pieces Go" by Jane Fawley is a gripping psychological crime drama that delves deep into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Set against the backdrop of a blood-stained London, the novel follows psychologist Sam Stirling as he aids DCI Albert ‘Smiley’ Riley in tracking down a serial killer whose gruesome displays of victims leave the city in terror.

Fawley's narrative is a complex tapestry of emotion and suspense, weaving together the lives of Sam Stirling and psychotherapist Emma Malone as they race against time to stop a killer who is always one step ahead. The killer's evolution is chillingly portrayed, with victims left at iconic landmarks, a pear in one hand and their heart in the other—a macabre signature that haunts both the characters and readers alike.

The author, a psychotherapist turned crime writer, brings authenticity to the story with her intricate understanding of psychological profiles. The novel is not just about the chase; it's about the damage that damaged people can inflict.

I am excited to read more from this talented author!

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

London is being terrorized by a serial killer who's getting more and more twisted with each victim. What's freaky is how they're leaving bodies at famous landmarks and east end gardens, with a pear in one hand and the heart in the other - talk about gruesome!

Enter Sam Stirling, the psychologist tasked with building a profile to catch the killer. He's got a great mind, but even he needs help from Emma Malone, a psychotherapist who gets drawn into the investigation. Little do they know, the killer's got a creepy obsession with Sam and Emma's caught his eye too... eek!

As the body count rises and the clues get more disturbing, Sam thinks he's closing in on the killer. But oh boy, the tables turn and it's a race against time! I can't say more without giving it away, but trust me, you'll be hooked! The writing's top-notch, the characters feel real, and London's eerie atmosphere adds to the tension. If you're into crime thrillers, this one's a must-read!

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author could offer lessons to many of the seasoned practitioners of serial killer thrillers. The pages disappear in a trice as the storyline gathers momentum, and in a very clever and deviously crafty structure one is given access to the killer's identity whilst those attempting to catch him are still struggling in the dark.
This is a creepy, disturbing novel, charged with emotion and tension and bold realism. It delves into the terrifying vicious circles of child abuse and its consequences. The killer stalking the streets of London is treacherous, dangerous and unpredictable-a deadly chameleon. Those hunting him: the senior detectives, and the profiler, are just as brilliantly drawn, as is the therapist who is unwittingly pulled into the spider's web.
The denouement is drenched in atmosphere, charged with adrenaline, and delivers a twist that is quite simply in a league of its own.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author could offer lessons to many of the seasoned practitioners of serial killer thrillers. The pages disappear in a trice as the storyline gathers momentum, and in a very clever and deviously crafty structure one is given access to the killer's identity whilst those attempting to catch him are still struggling in the dark.
This is a creepy, disturbing novel, charged with emotion and tension and bold realism. It delves into the terrifying vicious circles of child abuse and its consequences. The killer stalking the streets of London is treacherous, dangerous and unpredictable-a deadly chameleon. Those hunting him: the senior detectives, and the profiler, are just as brilliantly drawn, as is the therapist who is unwittingly pulled into the spider's web.
The denouement is drenched in atmosphere, charged with adrenaline, and delivers a twist that is quite simply in a league of its own.

[BlaireReadsTheThings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

What happens when a demented serial killer is on the loose? What happens when he is a thread away from snapping? What happens when a criminal profiler cuts that thread?

This is one of those books that the author starts to slowly show her hand. There is a lot of stuff that you figure out along the way. It's almost like the author failed to keep you in the dark. But, then you realized that showing her hand along the way distracted you for the plot twist. LOL I thought this book was a diabolical read. The killer is an absolute whack-job and makes you cringe every time his POV comes up. There are multiple POVs and it is pretty confusing at first before you know all of the characters, but it gets easier to digest. All in all, I enjoyed the book and had a good time.

[Marcelle Kaskawits · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an honest review in exchange for an advanced reader copy.

To say I loved this book is an understatement. It’s a graphic, often disturbing thriller. I read it as fast as I could and then spent time analyzing what I had read.

Someone is murdering women but that’s not all. He’s creating a story with each body and he’s working to a calendar. And right on target another girl goes missing. Enter Sam Stirling, a psychologist building a profile. Sam seeks assistance from psychotherapist Emma Malone. The killers develops an unhealthy obsession with Sam and starts playing games. Sam falls for Emma.

The killers strikes again and leaves a new clue, which helps the case make sense. Will Sam solve this case in time?

This is an excellently written book. The details are realistic and graphic. I am happy I got to read it.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the bruised pieces go by Jane Fawley is a brutally, gripping, mesmerising story of a serial killer and how Emma, the psychotherapist and Sam, the psychologist both become entangled in the killer’s brutal killing spree. Sam because he works for the police building a criminal profile that DCI Albert Riley and his team can use to catch the killer.
Emma because she is the psychotherapist who works with the criminally insane and also counsels psychologist Sam to ensure that he is still able to cope with his demanding job as a profiler. Events take a bizarre turn, when Emma arranges a mother and son to have a therapy session at the prison hospital and the situation reaches crisis point when Emma is taken hostage by Ben, the son and everything unravels.
Deeply disturbing psychological thriller that mesmerises the reader.
Highly recommended

[Jaylee Swanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book follows a serial killer hunting several victims and also follows the detective, therapist, and prisoner who become connected.

What I liked
- there were interesting facts and statistics shared throughout the plot
- The stories connection to characters
- It kept me guessing and wanting to read more
- The theme and pattern that connects to the cases was revealed about 50% of the way through and it was a theme that I connected with and was “fun” for me

What I didn’t like
- it was hard to keep the characters straight at first and not a lot of development because of the different people involved
- Too dark/ bloody/ gruesome for my liking
- the build up for the book fell flat at the end for me

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Nikki Houghton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Save your money this is creative writing stage one at its very worst. Gore, severed heads, plucked hearts, torture, blood, more torture, stalking (oh the endless stalking) a bowlful of pears, an absurd abuse of power relationship between Emma, a shrink, and Sam, a profiler of some sort who has everything to do with the plot but not until the very (ludicrous) ending where nothing actually makes sense except the author had a sordid grasp of family life.

[Sofia Guadagni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible book! It was scary and thrilling and had horror all wrapped into one! I was shocked with the way the author incorporated fairytales into the story but in a scary way. I thought it was well written and I didn’t want to put it down!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read, great twist

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Jane Fawley’s debut psychological thriller. It’s clever, immersive and gripping.
Brilliantly written with the most exquisite language and descriptions, it had me hooked.
Throughout the book I was with Sam & Riley, piecing together the puzzle that the killer was leaving behind, trying to make some sense of it all and wondering what his next move would be. To say I was intrigued is an understatement.

I love Sam. He is a very relatable person and his self awareness of his mental health really resonated with me. And with that, I loved Riley. The way he supports and understands Sam is amazing and highlights what a beautiful relationship they have, both professionally and personally.

And a special mention to Nina! Yes!! Read it and you’ll know! 😂♥️

WTBPG has everything I love and look for when reading thrillers.

*Flawed but likeable characters
*Intrigue that keeps me guessing
*A twist I wasn’t expecting.
*Leaves me wanting more!

And how can I not love that Sam is 41 soon to be 42 because that’s me!! 😂

Honestly though, I loved every page and cannot wait for more.

Please forgive me for not getting this review out sooner. I read it months ago but sometimes struggle with writing reviews and then forget. I don’t know why just the way my mind works (or doesn’t lol)